In this study, for the first time, we performed voxel- and atlas-based DTI analysis along with high-resolution T2*-weighted imaging in subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) to investigate early micro- and macrostructural changes remote from the injury at C2/C3. Thereby, we aimed to test the predictive ability of early tract-specific degeneration for the chronic functional outcome. DTI and tissue area measurements between SCI patients and controls revealed demyelination in the dorsal columns, indicative of early anterograde degeneration of sensory tracts. Importantly, these early microstructural changes predicted 1-year functional recovery, demonstrating the clinical eloquence of early DTI measurements as a prognostic tool.
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